January 2008

Release date: Tuesday, 1st January 2008

Happy New Year and welcome to the first show of 2008. This time we find out all about highly magnetised neutron stars - magnetars. We find out how observations with X-ray telescopes are allowing us to measure star quakes and probe the insides of magnetars. As it is the start of a new year we describe a selection of our favourite astronomical images from 2007 and tell you what to expect in the coming months. As always we also get the latest news from Megan and Ian tells us what we can see in the night sky.

The jet from the black hole in 3C321 striking the edge of another galaxy. Credit: NASA/CXC/STScI/NSF/VLA/CfA/D.Evans et al/STFC/JBO/MERLIN

Initial image of hole on the side of Arsia Mons, Mars seen by the HiRISE instrument on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. CREDIT: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Later image of hole on the side of Arsia Mons showing the side of the pit illuminated. CREDIT: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona